Hayward Phillips didn’t run out to the store to buy a Mega Millions ticket. There was no need: He was already covered. The Chesapeake man bought his tickets using the Virginia Lottery’s “subscribe online” function to play from his home.

“I’m very happy. I still can’t believe this happened to me.”

When Charles Leisure heard his wife Janet’s voice on the phone, he could tell something was up. She told him the Mega Millionsticket he’d bought for the December 27 drawing was worth a million dollars.